Windows graphics problems - black boxes, no text...

[DAH]

Hi,

Since a recent Windows update the graphics in the guest system fails:

• When I hover with the mouse over the icons in the task bar, the background becomes black.
• The background in the start menu flickers from black to transparent. Sometimes parts are black and sometimes they are transparent.
• Notifications fail to show content.
• In office, I literally can't see anything. It's all white. System notification boxes/prompts are functional, but I cannot see the content.
• Menus are gone - just a black box remains.

... Notably, my Adobe software on the guest is fine and doesn't have the problem. It is just the OS itself and Microsoft software.

I see this on two host systems (CentOS 7.6) with the same windows guest image/installation, VirtualBox 6.0.12.
I haven't re-installed the guest system yet. Has somebody else had this problem before?

How can I fix this?

Thanks!

[knutjb]

I have the same problem.

[socratis]

We need to see a complete VBox.log, from a complete VM run, where the problem occurs:

• Start the VM from cold-boot (not from a paused or saved state) / Observe or recreate the problem / Shutdown the VM (force close it if you have to).
• With the VM completely shut down (not paused or saved), right-click on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager and select "Show Log".
• Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response.

[DAH]

Sorry for the late response.

I attached the log file.

Thank you!

[socratis]

Your configuration looks fine, except the odd 200 MB VRAM, how come you didn't max it out at 256 MB VRAM?

Given the fact that the VBoxSVGA is rather new, I would keep on trying the latest test builds. Sign here for updates...

[DAH]

Thanks for having a look at the log file.

I found the issue. I reinstalled the system and the new system was fine initially, but as soon as I enabled the 3D acceleration (Settings>Display>Screen) the problem came back. 2D Video acceleration is fine, but there is a problem with the 3D acceleration.
As soon as I disabled this function in the old VM, the problem disappeared.

@knutjb: Please can you check whether this fix also works for you?

[socratis]

but as soon as I enabled the 3D acceleration (Settings>Display>Screen) the problem came back

Yes, that's a known workaround, but you might be missing some functionality...

[DAH]

Well, that might be, but of what use is the functionality when I can't see anything?

... So this is a known bug?

[knutjb]

It worked when I disabled 3D acceleration and I can see what inside word's windows.

[socratis]

So this is a known bug?

Yes, several. See for example #18966, a duplicate of #18956. As I previously stated about trying the latest test builds, from comment 2 of #18966:

Please try the latest test build 6.0.x revision 133688 ( https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds ). It includes some fixes for the VBoxSVGA adapter.